What Alzheimer’s is like?

Alzheimer’s is a specific form of dementia that impacts thinking, behavior, and memory. It’s a progressive disease that changes the lives of both the person with the diagnosis and the family members who care for them. There is often confusion about Alzheimer’s and aging, but the disease is not normal.

Early symptoms usually include trouble with recent memory or conversations. As the disease is progressive, symptoms usually get increasingly severe. These may include:

• Repeating things
• Forgetting conversations, dates and not recalling them later
• Getting lost in familiar places
• Losing possessions and not being able to retrace steps to find them, and finding them in unusual places
• Difficulty finding the right words
• Forgetting the names of objects, and even family members
• Multitasking becomes difficult or impossible
• Managing finances becomes increasingly difficult or impossible
• Changes in decision and judgment
• Trouble making plans
• Changes in personality and behavior
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Irritability

The causes of the disease aren’t fully understood. Still, proteins in the brain begin to function abnormally, collecting in ways that disrupt the brain cells and their ability to communicate with one another. Brain cells are damaged and eventually die—the brain mass changes. Most research shows that lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors interplay to cause Alzheimer’s.

These symptoms can also be associated with other conditions, so talking with your doctor or speaking with the doctor of your loved one as soon as you notice changes is best. Your doctor will rule out treatable conditions and refer you to a specialist to evaluate Alzheimer’s. There is currently no treatment shown to slow or halt the progression of Alzheimer’s, although research is ongoing for both viable, effective treatments and a cure. At present, treatment focuses on managing the memory and behavioral symptoms with medication.

If you or someone you know has an Alzheimer’s diagnosis or is experiencing symptoms, support from a qualified counselor can be very beneficial to managing the stress of a diagnosis and the challenges that caregivers may face. Contact your doctor for examination, support, referral to resources, or contact the Alzheimer’s Association Helpline at 1-800-272-3900.